07 March 2009

Evidences from the history suggest that most of the neighboring countries have often disagreed over the definition of their shared border. In many cases, border disputes did emerge even before existence of the borders! Smaller countries continue to blame the bigger and influential countries for border encroachments. Every country in this world seeks to protect itself from the menace of foreign invasion and espionage. But, there are few countries in this world that, despite of no threat of any invasion or foreign military attack, live under a continuous threat. They are not in a position to change the course of events in the world and often find themselves helpless. I am talking about the climate change that is being caused by the global warming and, the rising sea levels.

There are, broadly, two types of greenhouse gases. First type includes natural gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone whereas; the other includes gases like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) that are emitted due to the industrial processes. Human activities also contribute significantly to the level of naturally occurring greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases vary in their ability to absorb and hold heat in the atmosphere, a phenomenon known as the 'greenhouse effect'.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that sea level, by the end of this century, could rise by half meter unless necessary actions are implemented urgently in order to minimize the greenhouse gas emissions. If the prediction of scientists on global warming is correct, sea-level rise, violent storms, flooding and land subsidence etc. are going to a part of life particularly, for the people living in port cities all around the world. The stakes are high as the population in big port cities is expected to grow threefold by the 2070s, according to the Paris based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). There have been a range of predictions from scientists regarding the speed with which the ice sheets are melting as a result of sharp rise in the atmospheric temperatures. Less optimistic scientists predict that sea level could rise nearly two meters by the year 2100. And, the low-land states like Maldives are really in danger of being submerged as the average height of the land is just 1.5 meters above the sea level!

President of the Republic of Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed, once wrote in the International Herald Tribune, "Looking out from my office window, it is difficult to believe that this view someday disappear. If we are unable to save countries like the Maldives, it might be too late to save the rest of the world from the apocalyptic effects of self-reinforcing, run-away global warming."

It's not only the small island states like Maldives that need to worry about the sea level rise. More than 70 percent of the world's population lives on coastal plains, and 11 of the world's 15 largest cities are on the coast or estuaries. Already, two of the islands that make up Kiribati (a Pacific island nation) have gone under the waves and, according to some reports, if current warming trends continue, cities like London, Bangkok and New York will disappear: displacing millions and causing massive economic damage. Apart from this, one of the worst effects of the rising sea level is the contamination of the surface & ground water supplies worldwide. The rising sea level also threatens to wipe out the rural population and farmlands in most of the coastal countries.

Nepal, like several other countries, has almost no share in the global emission of the greenhouse gases. However, the fall-out of global warming and climate change threaten to wash away vast areas of the country. The possible consequences are lake bursts and disastrous floods. Global warming has increased the pace of snow melting as such big glacial lakes in the country are at risk of floods from glacial lake bursts, which could trigger huge loss of life and property.

So, is everything over now? The answer is: no! If we can fast track our efforts to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, we can still prevent the worst effects of the climate change. However, we should be honest enough in our efforts. The disastrous sea level rise may be avoided if we decide quickly to switch to the renewable energy sources and reduce our dependence on the existing coal, oil & nuclear energy options. The need to decarbonize the world economy was never as significant as it's now. The IPCC suggests that world has to cut the emissions drastically in a couple of decades. However, the present 'global economic recession' threatens to shift the focus of the world leaders from the agenda. There is a good chance that countries might fall into a self-defeating game of refusing to cutback first.

Once the chilling winter starts to bite with snowfall as the most common sight around, one may be forgiven for thinking that a warmer world, perhaps, is a better place to live. But, think again, it might be a suicidal notion. If our thoughts & policies could not be farsighted, at least we can feel for those who are on the verge of losing their identity. Countries like Maldives are living on borrowed time and, our fate too doesn't seem to be different!

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7
Comments:

Anonymous
said...

gr8 to find your blog, my friend. I was searching for the effects of sea level rise in the south Asia region n came to your blog. Though you have not given so much of the stats, yet liked your approach of writing. your analysis 'global economic recession' might shift the focus of the world from the issue seems unfeigned. u r right about countries falling into a self-defeating game of refusing to cutback the emission of greenhouse gases first. good article.I will visit your blog again :-) ,Miki

Yes, this is indeed a serious matter. Seems that it is worse than a common man's nightmare.

I just wonder, if some measures are being implemented in mass scale to prevent it?

Alok
said...

Excellent article on a very important issue! Global warming refers to increase in the temperature that causes changes in climate. A warmer Earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. The issue of climate change and global warming that is caused by human activities remains a greater cause of concern. The Maldives story you have included has made your post very interesting. cheers, my friend!

Dear Deependra,I agree that global warming is a very important issue these days. The picture of two sharks and "the Robinson Crusoe" cleverly explains its importance.Hey, I also tried the audio facility for reading the post. It was amazing and I like it.Thanks.

Miki, welcome to this blog! I am glad that you found this post interesting. hope to hear from you in the future as well.

Dilip jee, it is indeed worse than a common man's nightmare as you have rightly pointed out. A strong commitment to reduce emission of the green-house gases is what the need of hour. However, due to the current economic recession, I doubt that countries will be serious enough to act in this direction.

"Livin' on Borrowed Time" is the fourth single by the post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd from their collection Famous. The tune achieved number 15 on the standard shake diagram and composed by frontman Wesley Scantlin.

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Deependra Kumar Jha

...an educationist who holds a doctorate degree in electrical engineering...loves writing and views blogging as a wonderful medium to express the essence of things...writes when moved by intense passion on various themes, subjects and issues...his write-up emphasizes on the virtues of perseverance and optimism...

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